Health officials and psychologists are currently rendering aid to those affected in the accident.

Transport Minister Igor Levitin pledged that the plane crew and the airport services have done their best to evacuate the passengers as soon as possible, however eyewitnesses said that fire exits had been closed for a long time and the passengers had to jump out through the flame.

A popular Russian pop music group, Na-Na, was among the passengers on the ill-fated airliner. Members of the group smelt the burnt odor first, a Surgut internet-user wrote on one of the city's local forums several hours after the tragedy citing his friend who was among the passengers of the aircraft.

A criminal case has been launched in connection with the accident. Several hours after the explosion the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) announced on its website it has forged a commission to probe the accident.

Levitin said that an inter-departmental commission to look into the causes of the explosion was set up._____________buy viagra online in ukdirect vent pipe